Controls And Meters Are Internet Savvy

Said to be the industry's first web-enabled controllers, panel meters, transmitters, and signal conditioners, the iSeries of devices connects directly to an Ethernet network and can send and receive data in standard TCP/IP packets. The devices can serve Web pages over an Ethernet LAN or over the Internet, making it possible to monitor and control equipment or a process through a web browser from anywhere. With a 1/16 DIN temperature controller, for example, the devices can be used to monitor the temperature of a heater, change its set points or alarm points, turn the heater on and off, or make other modifications from anywhere on the local network, or anywhere on the Internet. The web pages can be customized and password-protected. Other than a browser, no special software is required on the host computer. And the controller can send an e-mail to alert users to an alarm condition or updating the status. Pricing starts at approximately $200 in OEM quantities and the DIN rail-mounted iServer sells for less than $100.